any weapons on you?

[ResistETIntervention]

Well, I'm sorry, but the exact opposite has been my experience. Having weapons around along with self-defense knowledge makes me feel empowered and secure. I've observed the same in others.

It seems that you are content with the false sense of security weapons provide.

'Sides, as you know from other threads, I don't believe your claim of ET interventions.

Regardless of what you believe, the ET Intervention has been occurring. I certainly hope you'll not find out the hard way. But then it will touch your life at some point or another. Get educated and empower yourself.

 

[Riverwolf]

It seems that you are content with the false sense of security weapons provide.

Not a very good dodge: that you claim that weapons don't provide security, then I assure that in my case and others they do, and then you say that it's false. Strikes me as akin to the no true scotsman fallacy.

Things affect people differently. Weapons won't provide security and empowerment to everyone, just as I consider food and the obtainment of it a general nuisance.

One HUGE mistake to make is to assume that the willingness to do harm to another human being if necessary automatically means a complete lack of love. The world does not operate in binary. I'm pretty sure Jack the Ripper would not have stopped if one of his victims decided to just give him a big hug.

I give you two quotes that I abide by:
"I have no enemies; only misguided friends." -Gandhi
"Do you have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." -Churchill

They may appear to contradict each other, but they're easy to reconcile.

Regardless of what you believe, the ET Intervention has been occurring.

Yeah, heard that song before, though they lyrics were often talking about other things, from Fundy YEC Christianity to various nonsense conspiracy theories. I'll be the 10 people who think the Slender Man is real would say the same thing.

 

[Father Heathen]

Have people always been carrying weapons around or is this a fad that began recently?

Don't be naive. The human species has always been a violent one.

 

[Father Heathen]

I'm a bit (actually a lot) shocked by the posts in this thread. It seems that I carry the strongest weapons of all that would pierce and touch the heart of those who carry other weapons - love and compassion for my fellow human beings.

Defending oneself and having love and compassion aren't mutually exclusive, and if someone is intent on victimizing you, using "love and compassion" won't deter or subdue them. In fact, it makes you an easy target.

 

[nazz]

Defending oneself and having love and compassion aren't mutually exclusive, and if someone is intent on victimizing you, using "love and compassion" won't deter or subdue them. In fact, it makes you an easy target.

It definitely does work sometimes.

 

[DreadFish]

Have people always been carrying weapons around or is this a fad that began recently?

This has been going on since the human mind develouped the ability to use tools; weapons are tools. Back in teh day before develouped civilizations, weapons were used for things like defending yourself and your fellow humans from wild animal attacks or from a rival group of humans. Naturally, humans haven't always had the full capacity to communicate beyond language barriers so there was plenty of potential for conflict with other groups of humans. Humans have always been violent and intent upon protecting themselves against outside threats. If love and compassion were fully sufficient, Buddhist monks in China wouldn't have had to use their shovel to defend themselves from animals or robbers when they were traveling and the "monk's spade" weapon wouldn't have been created.

While I can agree that a weapon often presents a false sense of security, there are many situations where the presence of a weapon prevents a situation of conflict from arising. If a guy comes up to my car window and demands something (assuming he doesnt have a gun), me lifting up a large heavy metal object could very well deter him from continuing. It's also true that the presence of a weapon can do the opposite and cause escalation in a conflict. What im reminded of is a recent case of road rage where the two men involved both had guns and ended up killing each other.

Anyway, this is not a black and white issue. There are many factors that go into any given situation and the factor of a weapon being present can affect any number of situations in any number of ways.

Love and compassion aren't always feel-good-squishy-fluff-fluff and the world is a tough place. Simply appearing less formidable can make you a target for violence while simply appearing formidable can totally avert a conflict all together because most people don't actually want to mess with someone who could be difficult or actually reciprocate the aggression back at them.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

for sole purpose of self-defense, do you carry a weapon? got one in your home? or in your vehicle?
what sort of weapon?

Only my deadly wit.

 

[Sha'irullah]

Just a tactical knife I bought some years ago. It is sharp and battle ready.

I actually shaved with it once, it failed not because the blade was not sharp enough but because I grew 3 times the amount of chest hair when doing so

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Only my deadly wit.

Oh no! Sandy is completely helpless and vulnerable!

 

[LegionOnomaMoi]

Just a tactical knife I bought some years ago. It is sharp and battle ready.

Generally speaking you don't want tactical knives to be that sharp. Shaving sharp tactical knives often can cut (the blade geometry is all wrong for it) and when they do they don't cut well and/or they crack easily. That's assuming your talking about your standard fix-blade ~6 inch k-bar type tactical knife:

I do the same thing, mind you, but only for tactical knives that I use as workhorse blades I don't really care about or tactical knives I would never use (because they are upwards of $400).

If you mean a tactical folder or something, then ignore all of this as it doesn't apply. The blades on such knives are much thinner and they can keep a razor edge and cut beautifully. My typical test is not shaving per se, but rather if I can cut a single arm hair through the middle.

it failed not because the blade was not sharp enough but because I grew 3 times the amount of chest hair when doing so

That'll happen. Be careful- I've known good men who turned into gorillas (and one chimp).

 

[oldbadger]

I'm a bit (actually a lot) shocked by the posts in this thread. It seems that I carry the strongest weapons of all that would pierce and touch the heart of those who carry other weapons - love and compassion for my fellow human beings.

Having read some of your threads, I thought that you might have had (at the very least) a cosmic ray atomic blaster under your bed.......

Of course, in the UK we're not allowed to own those.
All pistols are banned absolutely (other than for warrant holders).
All firearms and shotguns are strictly controlled.
Locking knives are banned in any public places.
Penknives may only have blades under 3" in length.
Baseball bats, etc are illegal unless you actually play baseball, etc.

 

[Riverwolf]

It definitely does work sometimes.

It can work if you make the other person feel guilty.

That's not a reliable deterrent, however, because if you're not part of their "tribe", then they may regard you as inferior, and thus basically a toy. No amount of guilt-tripping will stop that.

 

[DreadFish]

Having read some of your threads, I thought that you might have had (at the very least) a cosmic ray atomic blaster under your bed.......

Of course, in the UK we're not allowed to own those.
All pistols are banned absolutely (other than for warrant holders).
All firearms and shotguns are strictly controlled.
Locking knives are banned in any public places.
Penknives may only have blades under 3" in length.
Baseball bats, etc are illegal unless you actually play baseball, etc.

I've heard of that before. Im surprised by the magnitude of weapons banned in the UK. Does it actually affect the crime rate or rate of people assaulting with a deadly weapon?

 

[Riverwolf]

I've heard of that before. Im surprised by the magnitude of weapons banned in the UK. Does it actually affect the crime rate or rate of people assaulting with a deadly weapon?

I'm going to take a shot in the dark as to what such regulation could cause:

A large, successful black market in weapons.

Does such a thing exist in the UK, Oldbadger?

 

[Sha'irullah]

Generally speaking you don't want tactical knives to be that sharp. Shaving sharp tactical knives often can cut (the blade geometry is all wrong for it) and when they do they don't cut well and/or they crack easily. That's assuming your talking about your standard fix-blade ~6 inch k-bar type tactical knife:

I do the same thing, mind you, but only for tactical knives that I use as workhorse blades I don't really care about or tactical knives I would never use (because they are upwards of $400).

If you mean a tactical folder or something, then ignore all of this as it doesn't apply. The blades on such knives are much thinner and they can keep a razor edge and cut beautifully. My typical test is not shaving per se, but rather if I can cut a single arm hair through the middle.

I know what you mean very well, I am no dummy when it comes to knives although I do not use them that often but no it is not sharpened all that sharp. It is what a cutlery fan would call "Salesman Sharp" (I think that is the name), not sure.

But anyways this just means that the knife is not sharpened to the point that the edge is concave to the edge. It is a straight even edge so the full weight of the knife does not bear down on the fine edge when used.

I rarely ever sharpen a knife concave to its finest point unless it is a cheaper pocket knife.


Also my knife has an 11 inch blade on it not a typical 6 inch. It is recommended for a true tactical knife to not be over 7(lucky number rule) but I got mines for the sake of it being dramatic.

Have you ever seen a redneck toothpick before? The application is the same. Pulling out a big knife is just shock value, it is not exactly useful in a fight which I have no intentions on being in.

That'll happen. Be careful- I've known good men who turned into gorillas (and one chimp).

A chimp? Darnit! Why were you spying on me!

 

[Sha'irullah]

Quick note, the name of my knife is Friedrich The Sodomizer. I gave a grotesque threat to a certain individual to use the blade in an ungodly fashion that could only be conceived of by Vlad himself. Hence after that encounter I dubbed my armament.

Just lettin' ya folks know

 

[LegionOnomaMoi]

Also my knife has an 11 inch blade on it not a typical 6 inch.

A workhorse! I have two of those. One I picked up in a gunshop years ago and I use it and my machete for yard work. I don't care too much about beating it up. The other is a $700 custom made double-edged knife with a 10inch long blade 3inches wide and I will only use it for the inevitable Viking invasion.

It is recommended for a true tactical knife to not be over 7(lucky number rule) but I got mines for the sake of it being dramatic.

A true combat blade shouldn't be over 7 (unless it's a smatchet), but tactical knives that are primarily for camp work but must secondarily be capable of effective use in combat do get pretty big. I don't train with these much but they are cool. I've collected them. A central reason behind the use and development of the smatchet was the drama and the confidence it gave the wielder. When I carry a weapon, though, I don't want to get arrested. Pulling a big and/or scary blade intimidates many but provokes others (plus, it's guaranteed that if you have to use it prosecution will have a field day with you). I used to carry scary looking knives to prevent a conflict but ended up going with never drawing unless I absolutely have to and use other methods to prevent fights. So far, I haven't had to draw since I since I started carrying. But I do understand what you mean.

it is not exactly useful in a fight which I have no intentions on being in.

I get that. I used to carry a serrated fixed blade neck knife karambit because it looks scary even though I am not really trained to use a karambit. I did the same with a balisong once because it's easy to look competent wielding it without ever actually doing anything combat related (just tricks). But after 2 close calls and a lot of seminars and training with people who have forgotten more about combat than I would ever want to know, I stopped doing that.

Why were you spying on me!

Envy. You have a lovely fur coat, if I may say so. One day I hope to be a chimp just like you.

 

[Father Heathen]

It definitely does work sometimes.

If you want to roll those dice, that's your prerogative. However, there is an issue to be taken with with those who insist that others take unnecessary risks and make unnecessary sacrifices.

 

[Father Heathen]

Baseball bats, etc are illegal unless you actually play baseball, etc.

Whaaaaat? Okay, what about screw drivers and hammers? Kitchen cutlery? What if you accidentally break a leg off a table?

Does the proverbial harness really give your society a sense comfort and security?

 

[Riverwolf]

Australia is similar to the UK regarding weapons laws.

Most Australians don't think twice about weapons, but recently there has been an increase in shootings and black market weapons. This is almost entirely because of the methamphetamine trade,plus the influx of asylum seekers which has created some new criminal dynasties who are fighting to control this trade. This is shockingly politically incorrect, and also true. Many young middle eastern fellas are also joining motorcycle gangs as footsoldiers in the drug trade. Mainly because there is so little work available for them. Most of the now regular shootings in Australia come from this source, and occur in very specific neighbourhoods.

If amphetamine and marijuana were legalised, they would not have turf to fight over. I take amphetamine daily (legally). It's not a problem, physically or mentally. If it were widely available, the methamphetamine market would disappear. On that point, I often meet people of my generation who fondly remember the days of 'wizz' ( d- and l- amphetamine powder cut to 35%) and who never had a problem with it. They recognise that ice (100% d-methamphetamine) is a scourge (and won't touch it).

Apart from that specific recent constellation of mismanagement, the ban on guns here (following the Port Arthur massacre in 1996) did not result in a significant weapons black market.

You are assuming that the rest of the world has the same fascination with guns and other weapons as America. Well, we don't.

You're the one assuming on this one, as my statement was based on no such assumption.

'Sides, nobody I've talked to has much fascination with guns, and I said earlier that I hate the things. Frankly, I wish they could be uninvented, along with all other fire-based weapons, relegated to existence only in the virtual world and Nerf.

Most Australians never give a thought to weapons. If it were not for the Wars About Drugs, it would be a non-issue entirely in Australia.

Black markets are not fueled by mainstream markets, hobbyists, or enthusiasts; they're fueled by people who need them, i.e., other black market suppliers such as drug cartels or smugglers.

And I was talking about the UK, because I understand that England has a fairly high crime rate, unlike Australia.